by Jackson Bale
Janie---moves---towards---the---man’s---head,---slowly---placing---her---hands---on---his---disheveled---bloody---hair.
“[Calming---Mind],”---she---says,---activating---a---skill---which---helps---the---man---relax,---his---tears---stopping---soon---after---as---the---pain---subsides.---A---moment---goes---by---and---the---body---goes---limp,---her---own---tears---are---falling---on---the---man’s---forehead.
“May---Eir---guide---you,”---she---whispers,---removing---her---bloody---hands---off---the---man's---head,---her---strength---all---but---spent.
Walking---outside---the---tent,---she---finds---several---more---tents---like---hers,---all---housing---a---[priestess]---of---Eir,---awaiting---the---injured---as---they---come---from---the---frontline.
Turning---to---her---right,---she---looks---up---at---a---young---[Guard]---who---stands---at---the---ready---by---her---own---tent.
“A---soldier---has---died---inside.---Please---remove---his---body,”---she---orders,---watching---the---man---nod---before---entering---her---tent,---carrying---the---bloody---body---out---and---towards---a---ditch---already---brimming---with---the---dead.
Shaking---her---head,---Janie---reenters---the---tent,---taking---a---bloody---rag---and---wiping---her---table---clean…---or---as---clean---as---she---can.---Sitting---down---on---a---chair,---she---hugs---herself,---trying---to---ignore---the---sounds---of---crying,---screaming,---pain.---So---many---have---been---lost---today---and---all---because---of---power---hungry---nobility.
Not---even---a---minute---passes---as---two---soldiers---enter---her---tent,---carefully---plopping---down---an---injured---woman---in---armor.
An---armor---signifying---her---as---a---[Lieutenant],---a---leader---of---[soldiers].
Unlike---before,---one---of---the---[Soldiers]---does---not---leave---the---tent.
“Please---help---her,”---the---[soldier]---says---in---a---panicked---voice,---his---body---filled---with---injuries,---some---rather---painful---gashes,---but---he---just---looks---at---her,---holding---his---[Lieutenants]---hand---while---the---women---lays---unconscious---on---her---table.
Standing---up,---Janie---moves---towards---the---table,---finding---a---rather---beautiful---redhead---unconscious.---From---her---body---are---several---arrows---Jutting---out,---most---barely---able---to---penetrate---the---steel---armor,---but---one---of---them---seems---to---have---been---a---lucky---strike---which---had---went---under---the---armpit,---bypassing---the---armor---and---puncturing---a---large---vein.
“She---helped---us.---She---save---the---entire---company.---Rode---in---on---a---horse,---activated---some---skill,---and---we---were---able---to---outrun---the---enemy.”---he---explains---quickly,---panic---in---his---voice.
Janie---just---nods,---listening---in---while---she---slowly---unstraps---the---women's---armor..
“But---she---was---hit.---And---when---we---made---it---to---a---safe---position,---she---fell---off---her---horse---unconscious,”---he---says,---watching---Janie---as---she---removes---the---armor---covering---the---armpit,---revealing---an---arrow---wound---which---had---punctured---the---vein.---Blood---still---slowly---pooling.
Confused,---Janie---moves---her---hand---to---the---girl's---throat,---noticing---that---indeed,---the---woman---does---have---a---pulse.---Looking---down,---she---quickly---opens---a---pocket---of---the---women's---armor,---revealing---an---empty---vial---of---bloodgrass---extract,---a---powerful---potion---that---when---consumed,---would---force---a---body---to---produce---blood,---useful---if---you---cannot---deal---with---injuries---at---the---immediate---moment---and---do---not---want---to---be---low---on---blood.
But---such---an---extract---is---extremely---expensive---and---is---usually---consumed---in---small---drops.
She---drank---the---whole---thing…---she---knew---she---was---bleeding---out.
Moving---quickly,---Janie---moves---her---hand---towards---the---injury,---quickly---activating---her---skill,---her---hands---glowing---lightly,---her---mana---already---very---low,---but---she---perseveres,---passing---out---after---an---hour.
***********
Waking---up,---Janie---opens---her---eyes,---finding---herself---back---on---the---leather---covered---stone---bed,---her---body---lacking---any---clothing---whatsoever.
And---then---she---screams,---panicking,---holding---the---leather---blanket---over---her.
But---nothing---happens,---nobody---enters,---and---she---slowly---calms---down---realizing---that---nothing---has---happened.---It---was---all---a---dream.
Taking---a---deep---breath,---Janie---gets---out---of---bed---and---immediately---finds---her---clothing,---folded---on---a---chair---next---to---hers.
Biting---her---lip,---she---walks---towards---the---clothing,---slowly---putting---them---on,---remembering---how---crazy---the---last---several---days---have---been.---Summon---a---[Hero]---and---become---his---slave.---Enter---a---forbidden---area---and---find---herself---in---a---dungeon.---A---dungeon---that---does---not---act---like---a---dungeon---at---all.
The---dungeon---should---be---creating---monsters,---spawning---them---and---using---them---to---kill---invaders.---It---should---be---protecting---itself---from---other---sentient---beings.
But---instead,---it---does---nothing---while---an---entire---race---of---weird---lizard---people---lives---within…---and---the---[Hero]---is---having---sex---with---them.
Janie---stops,---her---pants---halfway---up---to---her---waist,---frowning---as---she---remembers---what---Thoric---had---said…---about---how---he---had---sex---with---them.
A---blush---slowly---creeps---upon---her---face---only---to---be---suppressed---down,---her---oath---not---allowing---for---such---activities---unless---she---wishes---to---lose---her---faith---and---the---abilities---given---to---her---by---the---Goddess---Eir.
Sighing---loudly,---Janie---continues---to---dress,---her---mind---moving---towards---yesterday---and---the---so-called---training---Thoric---had---made---her---do.
A---smile---creeps---along---her---face---as---she---remembers---how---much---progress---she---has---made,---how---she---had---been---able---to---heal---so---much---faster---with---his---advice---and---her---surprisingly---useful---skill.
Finishing---up---by---putting---on---her---robe,---Janie---tiptoes---outside---of---her---room,---walking---down---the---stairs,---her---gaze---momentarily---marveling---at---the---new---leather---and---bone---container---on---Mule’s---back.
It---is---rather---weird.---I---was---so---afraid---of---these---undead,---of---their---green---skeletal---light…---but---the---purple---light---seems---so---relaxing,---strong…---safe.
Shaking---her---head,---she---moves---towards---the---stairs,---traveling---slowly---down,---finding---the---place---relatively---empty---except---for---some---dried---meat---on---the---table---and---the---fruit---juice---the---lizard---people---seem---to---have.
_____
Quickly---eating---her---fill,---Janie---walks---outside,---looking---for---any---semblance---of---Thoric,---noticing---nothing---due---to---the---confusing---nature---of---the---buildings,---all---of---which---look---eerily---similar---with---no---signs---stating---directions.
As---would---be---expected---of---a---race---lacking---any---form---of---writing---proficiency.
Frowning,---Janie---moves---towards---the---stairs---twirling---down,---heading---towards---the---center---of---the---city,---the---location---of---the---dungeon---stone---and---hopefully---the---area---Thoric---would---be---around.
_______
Moving---through---the---streets,---Aisha---takes---a---left---and---then---a---right,---passing---an---ally---before---jumping---onto---a---roof,---her---eyes---seeing---nothing,---but---her---senses---allowing---her---to---pinpoint---objects.---Though---she---cannot---see---very---accurately---and---only---during---the---day.
Aisha---had---learned---to---notice---the---moving---light---mana---as---it---reflects---off---of---surfaces,---allowing---her---to---visualize---the---strong---bright---impacts---and---the---struct
ure---it---encompasses.---The---only---thing---stronger---are---living---beings,---and---one---of---the---two---new---friends---Aisha---had---made---are---those---with---the---strongest---light.
Smiling,---Aisha---quickly---Jumps---from---building---to---building,---sliding---off---a---roof,---landing---on---the---ground---with---a---roll---and---quickly---running---towards---the---light---in---the---distance.
“Janie!”---Aisha---yells,---running---towards---the---light---that---is---so---familiar---to---her.
The---humanoid---light---turns---around---and---gets---on---one---knee,---its---hands---opening---widely.
Jumping---into---Janie’s---arms,---Aisha---grabs---hold---of---her---neck,---enjoying---the---comforts---of---a---loving---embrace,---one---Aisha---wished---for---since---her---birth.
“Aisha,”---Janie---starts,---her---arms---around---the---young---Gajan,”---It's---nice---to---see---you.---How---have---you---been?”---She---asks,---holding---the---blind---affectionately.
Aisha---returns---the---smile,---her---day---brightening---up---considerably---from---just---the---physical---contact---alone.
_______
Janie---watches---as---the---young---Gajan---shoves---her---face---into---Janie,---eliciting---a---satisfying---and---muffled---“good”.
Enamored,---Janie---picks---her---up,---holding---her---with---both---hands,---watching---closely---as---the---Gajan---moves---her---head---away,---taking---a---deep---breath.
“Are---we---gonna---play---now,---”---she---asks---with---a---smile,---her---voice---high---pitched---but---clearly---not---fully---developed.
“Maybe,---but---I---first---need---to---find---out---where---Thoric---is,---”---Janie---explains---to---Aisha.
Hearing---the---name---of---her---other---friend,---her---tail---swishes---in---excitement---but---she---forces---a---frown,---a---rather---failed---attempt.
“He---said---he---is---busy,”---Aisha---pouts,”---he---said---he---needs---to---train---[soldiers],”---she---explains---again,---her---pout---barely---visible---while---her---tail---swishes---excitedly.
Lifting---an---eyebrow,---Janie---smiles---slyly,---knowing---quite---clearly---how---excited---Aisha---is,---an---excitement---she---herself---had---felt---when---she---was---younger---when---talking---about---some---amazing---individual.---Usually---of---a---named---person,---like---a---diver.
“So---where---is---he?”---Janie---asks.
Aisha---lifts---her---finger---and---points---towards---the---wall.
“He---is---outside---with---a---lot---of---people,”---she---explains.
Nodding,---Janie---strengthens---her---hold---on---Aisha---and---starts---walking---towards---the---direction---she---had---been---pointing.
“Then---let's---go---find---him,”---Janie---says,---eliciting---a---pout---from---Aisha.
“And---maybe---convince---him---to---play---with---us.”
The---pout---quickly---turns---into---a---smile---and---then---followed---by---a---nod.
Watching---the---Gajan---child---relax---back---into---Janie's---arms,---she---increases---her---pace---towards---the---wall,---her---own---curiosity---rising---each---step.
________
Shortly---after---Janie---makes---it---to---the---wall---under---Aisha's---guidance,---she---walks---up---quite---a---few---stairs---and---finds---herself---at---the---top---of---the---wall---where---a---plethora---of---children---are---watching---curiously---over.
The---children---give---Janie---but---a---quick---glance---before---returning---their---gaze---outside---the---city.
Following---their---gaze,---Janie---is---quickly---treated---to---an---amazing---sight---of---several---hundred---Gajan,---training---with---bone---weaponry…---and---getting---yelled---at---by---Thoric.
“Stop---fucking---getting---hit!---I---gave---you---goddam---shields,”---he---yells
“I---don't---fucking---care---if---your---scales---are---harder---than---the---shield.---Whacking---each---other---with---a---piece---of---bone---is---not---fighting!---You---need---to---learn---to---block---or---you---are---going---to---get---killed---by---something---that---will---penetrate---those---scales.”
The---Gejan's---in---question---that---are---being---yelled---at---are---actually---the---[Gajan---Guards],---who---have---learned---to---fight---from---the---Druella---nest,---a---caved---area---with---swarms---of---low-level---rat---like---enemies---used---to---train---young---Gajan---males---into---the---[guard]---class.
One---of---the---males,---sick---and---tired---of---getting---yelled---at,---drops---his---shield---and---club.---His---scaled---face---hisses---angrily,---revealing---his---razor-sharp---teeth---as---his---tail---swishes---predatorily.
Like---the---other---males---of---his---kinda,---he---is---tall,---strong,---and---covered---in---powerful---scales.
“This---training---is---worthless!,”---He---yells,---walking---towards---Thoric,”---why---must---we---learn---how---your---weak---kind---fight.---Your---kind---uses---magic.---We---Gajan---do---not,”---he---continues,---stopping---twenty---feet---from---Thoric,”---the---only---reason---we---are---even---doing---this---training---is---that---Anathema---has---ordered---us.”---He---seethes,---glaring---angrily---at---the---human---who---sits---relaxedly---on---a---large---stone---boulder---extending---from---the---ground.
Hearing---his---words,---the---other---Gajan---stop---their---training,---including---the---entire---hunting---group---as---well---as---the---younger---untrained---Gajan---who---wanted---to---join---the---expedition.
In---total,---about---350---Gajan---stop---and---turn---towards---Thoric,---unsure---of---his---reaction.
A---smile---forms---on---Thoric's---face,---a---smile---similar---to---how---a---predator---makes---when---pathetic---prey---thinks---themselves---stronger.
With---a---relaxed---movement,---Thoric---grabs---his---staff---and---jumps---off---the---rock,---twirling---the---staff---in---his---hands---expertly---as---he---makes---his---way---towards---the---angry---Gajan.
“Fine---then,---let---me---show---you---what---my---kind---can---do---without---magic,”---Thoric---says,---bending---his---knees---and---taking---on---a---defensive---stance.
Without---waiting---for---a---second,---the---[Gajan---Guard],---angry,---extends---his---claws---and---rushes---towards---the---human.
Thoric,---lowers---his---stance,---Jumps---out---of---the---way,---dodging---the---clawed---hand---by---mere---centimeters.
Still---smiling,---Thoric---weaves---expertly---around---the---Gajan,---seemingly---dancing,---weaving---through---blows---with---the---most---minimal---of---movements,---always---centimeters---from---getting---hit,---but---never---actually---allowing---purchase.
Having---seen---the---endurance---of---the---scales,---Thoric---changes---his---movement,---twirling---the---staff---in---his---hands,---increasing---its---speed---while---still---dodging---the---frustrated---swipes---of---the---Gajan---who---is---starting---to---slow---from---exhaustion.
With---a---quick---dodge,---Thoric---spins---his---body---and---slams---his---staff---into---the---Gejans---leg,---creating---a---loud---clang---and---dislocating---the---Gejans---knee,---forcing---the---four---hundred---pound---lizard---to---lose---his---footing.
Without---breaking---any---momentum---after---his---first---strike,---Thoric---uses---the---impact---to---spin---his---staff---the---other---direction,---jumping---into---the---air---and---slamming---his---staff---on---the---Gejans---back,---forcing---the---lizard---into---the---ground,---cracking---scales---and---internal---bone.
The---whole---movement---was---so---fast---and---precise---that---the---Gejan---did---not---even---have---time---to---scream---before---being---struck---unconscious.
Thoric---stands---back---up,---turning---away---from---the---unconscious---Gejan---and---looks---towards---the---others.---All---of---the---guards---stand---straighter,---showing---newfound---respect---towards---the---[Hero]---who---had---just---beaten---down---a---level---63---so---easily.
The---hunting---group---just---stare
s---at---him---lustfully,---especially---considering---that---they---are---comprised---primarily---of---females---which---find---powerful---males---extremely---attractive.
“Back---to---training,”---Thoric---yells,---activating---his---[loud---Voice]---skill---and---making---sure---all---of---his---people---have---heard.
At---the---sound---of---his---voice,---the---Gejan---immediately---resume---training,---putting---significantly---more---effort---than---before…---especially---the---women.
Turning---away---from---the---Gejan---army---Thoric---is---training,---he---mentally---calls---up---one---of---his---Desbats,---having---it---fly---towards---him.---Once---landed,---Thoric---mounts---the---undead---and---orders---it---to---carry---him---to---the---wall---opposite---of---where---a---group---of---fifty---children---talk---and---point---excitedly,---having---watched---the---entire---fight---from---start---to---finish.